钱

• Pinyin: qián
• Hanzi breakdown: 钱 = 钅(metal) + 戋 (phonetic component)

Meaning

Money; currency. The most common general term for money.

The everyday word for money in all contexts. Used in questions about price (多少钱), in compounds like 零钱 (change), 钱包 (wallet), and when discussing finances. Informally, 块 (kuài) is used as the spoken measure word for yuan when talking about amounts.

Examples

1. 这个多少钱？ How much is this?
2. 我没有钱。 I don't have any money.
3. 他给了我一百块钱。 He gave me one hundred yuan.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这件衣服多少钱？(How much is this piece of clothing?)
• 我今天没带钱。(I didn't bring any money today.)

Don't Say

• 我有很多的钱。(Slightly awkward — 的 is not needed here; say 我有很多钱)

Origin & History

Originally referred to a type of ancient farming tool. The character contains 钅(metal radical) and 戋 (phonetic), evolving from metal tools used in trade to the concept of currency.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal